[Jewelry making - Article 01385] - [Orchid] Re: [orchid] Keeping blackened silver black

[Allan Wilkinson]

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    I once placed a small sterling casting in the cavity of a halved,
    quartz crystal lined geode for display purposes. When I examined it
    several weeks later the once shiny casting was completely blackened
    and remains so to this day, despite repeated pickling and buffing in
    a vain attempt to restore its original lustrous finish. 

    I am unsure of the mineralogical classification of the geode or of
    its geographical origin but it has a faint petroleum odor, which I
    failed to notice when I first assembled the display.A0 My guess is
    that it contains a sulfur compound that is more powerfully reactive
    with silver than is liver of sulfur. 

    Someday, when I have more time, I intend to experiment further; as
    the patina that I unintentionally produced is amazingly durable. 

Allan Wilkinson


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